Eventide releases CrushStation for H9 stompbox

Eventide has announced CrushStation, a tweakable overdrive algorithm for the H9 harmonizer stompbox.

The H9 is used by artists worldwide for its delay, modulation, pitch and reverb effects. The H9’s popularity is based, in part, on its extreme tweakability. Now, with the introduction of CrushStation, the H9 introduces a new world of overdrive effects with extensive creative parametric control.

CrushStation turns the H9 into an overdrive command center with unprecedented control of the effect with results ranging from buttery saturation to crushing assault. Control features include the usual suspects: Drive, Sustain, multi-band EQ. Plus control over features like Sag, Octaves and Grit that take the overdrive effect beyond the norm.

“Some time ago, Vernon Reid of Living Colour stopped by to visit and inspired us to look into creating a distortion effect using the H9’s DSP power. He pointed out that dirt was the only thing missing from H9’s bag of tricks. One of our lead developers and resident bassist, Russell Wedelich, took on the challenge,” remarked Nalia Sanchez, Director of Marketing Communications. “CrushStation is the result of that effort. Thanks Vernon; thanks Russell!”

“We’ve always been wary of the idea of modelling analog distortion or trying to emulate some classic pedal,” said Tony Agnello, one of Eventide’s crabby old men and, like Vernon, a Brooklyn Tech alumnus. “Distortion, overdrive, gain – whatever you call it – is a pretty personal and subjective thing. We’re not here to reinvent the category. We’re simply doing what we’ve always done: Take what’s out there, crack it open and see how far we can push it. Then give the artist as much control as possible and sit back and enjoy the amazing and inspiring things they do.” Agnello continues, “It takes a ridiculous amount of digital processing power to convincingly model the behavior of diodes and transistors in distortion circuits, so, if CrushStation is mistakenly perceived as an attempt to model a Klon or Tube Screamer or something, and folks get annoyed at us, remember that it was all Vernon’s idea.”

CrushStation and its presets are available to demo by downloading the new version of the free H9 Control application (Windows, Mac & iOS). CrushStation is available for purchase via H9 Control for $19.99 USD for H9 and H9 Core and is free for the H9 Max.